John b



J. R. BUECHLER.

' CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-$19!].

l,307,43--1. v Patented June 24; 1919,

a Ho t/nu UNITED STATES FPATNT orrion.

JOHN It. BUECHLER, or KEOKUK, IOWA, nssreivon 'ro ALBERT e. WE'IMORE, or

Y PLYMOUTH, INDIANA.

can-TE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. Boner-1min, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keokuk, in the county of Lee and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Im-' provements in Crates, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates "to crates of the knocledown type, constructed with a'view to permitting ready assemblage of the for use or their separation for knock-down shipment.

The improved crate is made up of opposed heads and interveningslats, the latter oothe particular heads,

forming relation,

wholly free of connection one with another operating with the heads in the particular manner for heads while yet insuring a particularly substantial structure when the parts are in crate the slat members are close storage when in knock-down to permit the construction also permitting relation; the use of a variable number in accordance of the nature and character of contents with which the crate is to be used.

The invention also contemplates an auxiliary fastening means, whereby the slats may be held against separation from the heads in any direction, the crate when but partly filled or other circumstances- The improved crate in its preferred details is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view with a crate constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a hook clip for connecting the slats to the heads.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a slat and both heads in crate forming relation.

Fig. A is a horizontal of Fig. 3.

The improved crate is made up of opposed and preferably duplicate heads, each including an annular band or ring member 1, and brace strips 2 extending across said member and preferably, though not necessarily, secured to one edge thereof. If desired a further brace strip 3 may be arranged within the band, the ends of the strip 3 bearing against the band at diametrically opposite points, arranged across under section on line 44 the strips 2.

parts detachable connection with the of slats with to thereby permit the use of and said strip 3 preferably belng,

The upright or what may be termed the side wall of the. crate includes a series of slats 4: of identical construction. Each slat, preferably though not necessarily of wood, is of a length and thickness determined by the size. and strength desired for the partiou-- lar crate, and is provided terminal hook clip, to removably engage the annular head memhere 1.

As hereshown the clip memberseach compr1ses a U-shaped metallic section, havmg a width corresponding :to the similar dimensions of the slat, with one side wall 8 are, when the clips are secured to the slats,

spaced from the relatively inner sides of the slats a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the ring members 1 of the heads, and the length of the side walls 7 and 8 is preferably slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the wall of the ring member 1.

As thus constructed, each slat is provided at each end with a removably secured hook clip, which clips open toward each other in position to receive the ring members of the respective heads.

In making up the crate the secured within the clips of the desired number of slats, so that said slats form in effect a skeleton side wall, rising above the lower head member. The material to be crated is then placed within this side wall, and the upper head member moved downwardly within the upper ends of the slats until the hook clips of the latter may be moved into position to engage the ring member 1 of the upper head.

The invention contemplates a means for securing the ring member of the upper head in the hook clips. As here shown this means comprises nails or similar fastening strips, which are adapted to be passed through openings 10 and 12 formed in the margins of lower head is Patented-June 24., 1919. Application filed January 8, 1917. 7 Serial No. 141,175, r I i at each end with a which clips are designed l of such members remov. blysecured'in fixed re-'' the clips below the adjacent edge of the head, these nails or fastenin s passing through the clip and slat, and being of a length to permit their terminals to be bent laterally on the outside of the clips to pre- Vent accidental disconnection.

In .the particular form here shown it is noted that the band'of each head is rectangular in section, and the clip 5 correspondingly shaped. This prevents possibility of tilting movement of theheads and insures a comparatively rigid structure when the parts are assembled. 2

The salient feature of the invention resides in the heads made up. as an entirety and a series of independent slats, having hook clip terminals to engage, but remain wholly free of direct connection with the heads. The importance of this arrange ment is apparent when it is understood that by such, any desired number of slats may be used with a particular crate to thereby render such crate as strong as necessary for the particular purpose. Furthermore the slats are without connection one with another and may be conveniently bundled in comparatively small space for reshipment, when in knock-clown relation.

Having thus describedthe invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A crate comprising end members or Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor one end and two secured to the outer face of the, side por-.

heads spaced apart, each embodying a ring shaped marginal member, slats extending between said heads and arranged in lapping engagement with the latter, rectangular U-shaped coupling members secured to the ends of each slat and engaging over the marginal member of each head and provided in the side portions with alined openings, and a fastening member arranged to be positioned in said openings and inwardly of saidmarginal member for detachably coupling the crate members together. V x 7 2. A crate comprising end, members or heads spaced apart, shaped marginal member, slats extending between said heads and arranged in lapping engagement with the latter, rectangular U-shaped coupling members at the ends of said slats, each coupling member comprising parallel side portions, one of the latter slat by suitable means," the other tion arranged to lap the inner face of the marginal member, said side portions provided with alined openings, and a fastening member arranged to be positioned in said openings and inwardly of said marginal member for coupling the crate members, together. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.- 7

y JOHN R. BUEGHLER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

each embodying a ring 

